Breaking News & Views

The winner of the 2026 APF prize draw for the fantastic Stihl MS500i Chainsaw was; B Charrington We look forward to presenting it to them shortly

The BIG one is back 24th -26th September2026. The APF Exhibition is the UK’s largest Forestry & Arboriculture trade show and has over 300 trade exhibitors. This is a must for any tree surgeon or forestry contactor. For more information visit https://www.apfexhibition.co.uk/

If you have ever wondered why your business insurance costs are going up then read this but be warned it will make your blood boil. A subbie injured himself whilst texting his girlfriend near some equipment. He tripped because he was not looking where he was going as he was too busy arranging his personal…

This year’s  APF show was fantastic, despite the odd shower. The winner of the Stihl chainsaw was G Egan from Yorkshire. She can be seen in the photo with a big smile after receiving the prize.  Congratulations again to her and thank you to everybody who came to see us.  We look forward to seeing you…

We are often asked whether people should incorporate and start trading as a Limited Company or remain self-employed as sole traders or partnerships. There are some major advantages to trading as a Limited Company – not least the limitation of liability itself. This can be vital to help you protect your assets if something goes…

This was the men’s final at the APF last week – how do they do this? The show was fantastic, the weather just about held out and it was great to meet so many of our clients. The good news for us is many had purchased more kit that needs to be insured!

In order to prevent frivolous allegations of ‘damage’ whilst on site, we are reminding you of the importance of taking photos (or videos) of ‘before’ and ‘after’ when you are on a job. This can be vitally important to defend the ‘You’ve damaged my wall’ allegation that is coming to you soon. A simple video…

This year’s  Arb Show was fantastic, great weather and really busy. The winner of the Stihl chainsaw was Thomas W. He can be seen in the photo with a big smile whilst receiving his prize.  Congratulations again to Tom  and thank you to everybody who came to see us.  We look forward to seeing you…

We regularly get asked the question ‘What level of Public Liability Cover should I have?’.  As this type of cover is NOT a legal requirement there isn’t a set minimum required by law. Often you will require a minimum level of cover to get a particular contract, for example with a local authority. This tends to…

This is one of our favourite shows and is set in the fantastic Westonbirt Arboretum. Along with the top retailers there will be workshops and competitions, so put the 17th -18th of May in your diary . For further information click on the link below. https://www.trees.org.uk/The-ARB-Show

I have just heard of another nasty infection from Blackthorn and I have been sent the photo!  I don’t want to be graphic, but the hospital had to suck the poison from the joint to avoid a potential amputation. The hospital, which has a specialist skin and joint unit say they have several admissions a…

The 11th November this year falls on a Saturday. Whilst we will be shut I know some of you will be working. I am being pressganged into putting up some shelves but I will be stopping everything just before 11 am for the 2 minute silence. Whatever you are doing I hope you will join…

This one often takes me by surprise, so we thought we’d share a reminder about payments on account for your tax bill, which are due by 31st July. If you are registered for Self-Assessment, check your payment schedule with HMRC and make sure you don’t miss making the correct payment. If you pay late you…

We have just heard the news that FR Jones & Son has gone into administration. Having known some of the family for several years this is really sad. We know they were very much dedicated to customer service and hope everything is resolved in a way that means people don’t lose out. However, we know…

We are in the middle of nesting season so we thought it was a good time to ask how it affects your business. Are there other areas of your business that you focus on for these months? Or are you doing so well that you can take a three-month break 😉? Some say it doesn’t…

One of our clients has allowed us to share this picture to show how people can break into a purpose made security container. The container was cut using a heavy-duty grinder and items passed out through the hole. We suspect these thieves didn’t hang around, but what more can you do to protect your tools?…

The extra Bank Holidays for the Coronation mean we now have 3 Mondays off in May. Is this good news for you, or a right royal pain ? Do you have to give your staff the extra days off? And if so, will you be paying them? It’s a complicated subject. It’s not just about…

To ensure your insurance policy is up to date, you MUST inform insurers if there are any changes to your business such as, but not limited to: If you switched from driving a Ford Fiesta to a new Mercedes and it was stolen, you probably would not be covered if you had not informed your…

I have just discussed another Employers’ Liability claim where people have ‘lent’ out their subbies to work for another contractor. The subbie then got injured on ‘someone’ else’s job. The problem arises if you say: ‘go and do that for Max’, you could be seen as having given an ‘instruction’ and it’s a slippery slope from…

If you are thinking about setting up in business, and the idea of going into business as a ‘partnership’ with a friend is appealing – make sure you’ve really thought it through! A partnership is a proper legal partnership that’s registered with HMRC, and not just two friends working together. You may also be referring…

The team at Tree Surgeon & Forestry Insurance are looking forward to spending some time away from the office with our families. We will still be available for our customers. Our Christmas opening hours are: Monday 19th December – 9am to 5pmTuesday 20th December – 9am to 5pmWednesday 21st December – 9am to 5pmThursday 22nd…

My favourite quote from Winston Churchill is ‘Don’t believe everything you read on the internet’. This came to mind because I have just read a post online which said, ‘you don’t need Employer’s Liability Insurance if you are using subbies who have their own insurance’! Hopefully you already know that this is NOT correct and…

One of the things I find most baffling is when somebody appoints a family member as a business partner or a director of their business, without considering the implications. It is often done so they can help out with paperwork while the husband does the manual work (yes, I know it may sound like a…

We had a great time at this year’s APF. It was fantastic to see so many of you at our stand. One of our highlights of the event was watching the World Pole Climbing Champion Dan Whelan defend his title for the third time. Here they are in the final – it’s incredible to watch.…

We have just drawn the winners for our APF ticket prize draw. Their names are listed below. If you were one of the lucky winners, please check your private messages on Facebook/Instagram for further details. From Facebook: Callum ByrneHarry levyJason HearnAlun BallMichael TaylorFred HarberAlan TophamAndrew KitcherWayne Paul StonehamBilly SaundersJames MarstonLiam HealyWill PackhamWilliam IvesChristian KayeRichard DalgarnoGeorge…

We are all looking forward to the return of APF 2022 this year, so to celebrate we are giving away 30 tickets to this years event. To be entered into the prize draw to win one of these tickets, please like our post on Facebook or Instagram before 11.59pm Thursday 8th September 2022. Entrants must have…

It’s that time of year when we start to get even more claims for damage to artificial grass. This creates headaches for contractors, insurers and customers alike. The reality is that artificial grass is becoming more and more popular, although I am not sure why! The problem is that the synthetic green carpet is not…

Hi, I’m Simon, the Managing Director at Tree Surgeon Insurance. I want to share my true story with you, as it raises some important points. Six weeks ago, I woke up with a sharp pain in my Achilles. The only thing I had done was play crazy golf with my 14-year-old daughter. The pain got…

We often hear ‘My groundsman is a bona-fide sub-contractor, so I don’t need Employers’ Liability Insurance’. These days everybody should know that it is extremely unlikely that a groundsman or even a climber is a bona-fide sub-contractor. Note the caveat – ‘extremely unlikely’. The reason for this cautionary note is the original law and guidance…

This occurred some time ago, but it is a reminder about ‘working together’. A chap, who we will refer to as John, only did hedge laying and the felling of small trees. He had Public Liability Insurance and stated that he works alone. He found he had a lot of work on, so a friend…

The recent storms have created a massive spike in demand for Tree Surgeons and Foresters. This in turn has brought out the cowboys. Last night the doorbell rang, and I cautiously opened the door (working in insurance I don’t have many friends!). A very dishevelled looking man told me he was in the area tidying…

The old ones are the best, and we love this classic video. Do you have any favourites? Please share them with us over on our Facebook Post!

It’s a subject men never talk about – Prostate Cancer. Despite being almost as common as breast cancer, awareness of this disease is tiny by comparison. Why? I think this can only be down to men’s attitude towards health. The shocking fact is that for far too many men this post will be a surprise.…

The cost of equipment is going up, so why not make a chainsaw? What could possibly go wrong? Check this out and let us know what you think on Facebook. And no… we don’t insure home-made saws.

Yesterday I once again heard how a contractor was not getting paid for work completed. I asked him what it said in his contract, and the reply was ‘I don’t issue contracts’. Even more surprisingly, he stated that this was the 3rd time this has happened since May. At this point, I need to stress…

Watch this video to help you understand what insurance an Arborists or Forestry Contractor needs. This is our MD giving a training lecture to Arb Students as part of the business studies section of their course. The right insurance will help to protect you, your clients and any staff. This video is a must-see for…

Does having a tracker on plant work? We have just heard about another case where a chipper was stolen and despite numerous calls to the police the owner watched it travel down the M2 to Dover, through Poland and it now lives in Ukraine. All that traveling and without it’s jabs! Currently most of our…

The Arb Show has also been cancelled this year  but the good news is that  the Virtual Arb Show is back once again. So put 28th -30th May in your diary and click on the link below. Let us hope for the real thing next year and an end to social distancing! https://www.trees.org.uk/News-Blog/Latest-News/Virtual-ARB-Show-returns-for-2021

The Supreme Court has made their final call on the Uber case and there really is no going back from here. The implications are ENORMOUS for the Arb & Forestry Industry. I know I will be moaned at, but this has to be positive for this sector in the long term. It can only ‘up’…

A client has recently clipped a phone line. He was expecting a repair bill for £500-£800 but he now finds that he is being sued to replace a phone pole as well! To defend the claim, he has been asked to provide photos – which he has not got. We often hear about utility companies…

I recently heard out about a tree surgeon who damaged somebody’s car due to a large branch falling on it.  After some ‘persuasion’ the vehicle owner agreed to claim on their car insurance. Matter closed?? Of course not. The vehicle insurer then pursued the tree surgeon for the damage and all the litigation costs.  This…

Remember you CAN work in a lock down! In the last lock down the Arb Association received the flowing letter from Lord Goldsmith – Minister of State. ‘Arboriculturists should therefore be able to continue with outdoor work, where they can continue to follow Public Health England guidelines’ See the full letter below:- https://www.trees.org.uk/Trees.org.uk/files/c1/c1e54299-9032-4c31-a1fa-65acfa7831c4.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1L5j2741mXGX4frUtuOt8lUUDkW9UxSo9epPiVeYz262VHxFTnm2WoOhk Please share…

The last Domino! Is there any point in incorporating these days? This is a harder call now due recent taxation changes-☹ It is certainly less clear cut now but there are still some big advantages to trading as a Limited Company. The limitation of liability itself is probably the biggest advantage. In a world where the…

To many people, a rhododendron is a beautiful plant which has been ‘encouraged’ to grow. Like many introduced species it is causing havoc to our ecosystem. This plant is responsible for the destruction of many native habitats. It has spread from people’s gardens to many once wild habitats. Apparently, it is a competitive plant that…

We keep getting asked about ‘New for Old’ insurance for tools, as some providers no longer offer this. So ‘yes’ – subject to policy limits we can offer this type of cover. So call us now on 01732 373864 and get those tools insured!

Europe’s largest Arb, Forestry and Timber event has been postponed. I guess this is the best thing as safety always comes first. The only good news is that it’s on next year instead, along with the Olympics and Euro football. So, put 23rd/24th/25th September 2021 in your diary. https://www.apfexhibition.co.uk/

Have you ever wondered why Arborists & Foresters business insurance costs go up? Two Arborists have sent me emails they have received, offering £1,000 for any successful referral that results in a lawsuit against an employer! ‘Do you know anybody who has been injured at work?’ This is a real escalation of the ambulance chasing solicitors…

The world has changed in the last two months and, I believe, in some ways for the better. Here are my predictions  for the implications for your industry: The end of subbies This will happen for a variety of reasons, not least it is much easier to ‘furlough’ an employee. When we do come out the…